It's saddening a pandemic has to happen for people to realize the importance of hygiene, but it's a good thing we're doubling our efforts these days to ensure everything we touch is clean. And while we can't always make sure our hands are free of viruses, there are ways we can reduce the amount of germs lurking, including in our cars.
Here's some new tech to help make the interior of your car cleaner than ever.
Ultraviolet Light
UV light has been used for cleaning purposes for quite a while now, including in hospitals where they use a type of ultraviolet light called UV-C. However, some companies have begun designing in-car UV-C tech so that drivers won't have to go through a lengthy process.
Jaguar Land Rover is one example. Imagine a car ventilation system that uses UV-C rays so germs are killed off before air is blown in your face -- neat, isn't it?
Yanfeng, a car interior designer, is also making a device that can be mounted on a car's interior called the "wellness pod," and yes, it has UV-C tech inside the pod. This product's got a lot of potential, and you can even choose from a variety of scents like "citrus" and "woody."
HEPA Filtration
HEPA, or High Efficiency Particulate Air, is a type of filter with an incredible capability of removing over 99.9% of particles in the air as tiny as 0.3 microns. One automaker that's already had this tech integrated into its cars is Toyota.
The Toyota Camry Hybrid is actually one of the first vehicles integrated with a HEPA filtration system, thanks to the automaker's partnership with Sharp. Another example is the 2020 Toyota RAV4, which also has a HEPA air purifier built within its system.
JVC also introduced its own HEPA air purifier, the KS-GA100, at CES recently. The device can be plugged in using a 12-volt outlet inside any car and it will do the rest of the job, cleaning the air off of negative particles that could compromise one's health.
Tesla's take on air filtration, meanwhile, is a bit intense. Its Model S and Model X has a Bioweapon Defense Mode, which can kill off the most dangerous of viruses, including a military-grade biological attack.
In actuality, there are a lot of car air purifiers available today, but always see to it you do your research first to ensure what you're choosing is safe.
